Rice White Tip and Its Control

• It is caused by the nematode (Aphelenchides besseyi) spp, that infect on the tips of leaves.

• Most destructive parasitic disease in rice.

• The symptom occurs about 2 months after the rice transplanting.

Symptom

• Starts with whitening on leaf tips about 1-2 inches and later the tips become twisted and withered.

• Only the leaf tips are white and dry, while the rest of the leaves remain green as normal.

• Progressive infestation can cause the flag leaf twisted and the panicle could not be emerged. If the panicle emerges, small in size with unfilled spike-lets.

 

Disease Cycle

• Use disease-free seeds after prior inspection.

• Soaking the seeds in hot water (52-53 °C) for 15 minutes can kill the seed-borne nematodes.

Chemical Control

 

• Application of Carbofurum 3G 1kg a.i/ha in the nursery, one week before transplanting as preventive measure.